A versatile multicomponent mesoporous silica nanosystem with dual antimicrobial and osteogenic effects

Abstract

In this manuscript, we propose a simple and versatile methodology to design nanosystems based on biocompatible and multicomponent mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) for infection management. This strategy relies on the combination of antibiotic molecules and antimicrobial metal ions into the same nanosystem, affording a significant improvement of the antibiofilm effect compared to that of nanosystems carrying only one of these agents. The multicomponent nanosystem is based on MSNs externally functionalized with a polyamine dendrimer (MSN-G3) that favors internalization inside the bacteria and allows the complexation of multiactive metal ions (MSN-G3-Mn+). Importantly, the selection of both the antibiotic and the cation may be done depending on clinical needs. Herein, levofloxacin and Zn2+ ion, chosen owing to both its antimicrobial and osteogenic capability, have been incorporated. This dual biological role of Zn2+ could have and adjuvant effect thought destroying the biofilm in combination with the antibiotic as well as aid to the repair and regeneration of lost bone tissue associated to osteolysis during infection process. The versatility of the nanosystem has been demonstrated incorporating Ag+ ions in a reference nanosystem. In vitro antimicrobial assays in planktonic and biofilm state show a high antimicrobial efficacy due to the combined action of levofloxacin and Zn2+, achieving an antimicrobial efficacy above 99% compared to the MSNs containing only one of the microbicide agents. In vitro cell cultures with MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts reveal the osteogenic capability of the nanosystem, showing a positive effect on osteoblastic differentiation while preserving the cell viability.